January 6, 2026
Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price shared a backfield with Heisman runner-up Jeremiyah Love for his entire collegiate career, but the 22-year-old flashed enough for many to consider him the second-best RB prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft class. While playing second-fiddle to Love over the last two seasons, Price rushed 233 times for 1,420 yards (6.1 YPC) and 18 touchdowns in 28 games. He also secured three touchdown receptions. Price is a dangerous kick returner, tallying 12 returns for 450 yards and two touchdowns in his final collegiate campaign. Love is expected to be the lone first-round NFL Draft pick among running backs, but Price could earn his way into Round 2 with a strong predraft process. Given the lack of high-end talent at the RB position in this rookie class, Price could end up as a consensus first-round pick in dynasty rookie drafts.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Sports Reference CFB
January 6, 2026
Philadelphia Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson (foot) is expected to practice on Wednesday for the first time since he suffered a Lisfranc foot injury against the Detroit Lions on Nov. 16, NFL sources told Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Although Johnson has made progress in his recovery, he has yet to test his right foot before the Eagles decide on his availability for the Wild-Card playoff game this Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers. The 35-year-old veteran was playing at a Pro Bowl level despite battling other ailments in 2025. The Eagles went 3-4 in the seven games that he missed with his foot injury, and they are now 18-28 in games that Johnson has missed in his 13-year career. Johnson has missed one of a possible 15 career playoff games, which was a Wild-Card loss to the Seahawks in 2020. It's clear that Johnson is an integral part of the Eagles' success, so we'll keep a close eye on his practice status all week.
--Keith HernandezSource: Philadelphia Inquirer - Jeff McLane
January 6, 2026
Chicago Bears rookie tight end
Colston Loveland is fresh off his best game of the season in Week 18 against the Lions, catching 10 of his 13 targets for 91 yards and a touchdown. The 10th overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft ends his rookie campaign as the Bears' leading receiver, compiling 58 catches (82 targets) for 713 yards and six touchdowns in 16 games. Since Week 9, Loveland scored the second-most PPR points among all tight ends, trailing only
Trey McBride. He recorded at least four receptions in seven of those 10 games and has emerged as one of quarterback
Caleb Williams' go-to targets down the stretch, with receiver
Rome Odunze (foot) sidelined. Loveland profiles as one of the best tight ends to roster for fantasy managers in playoff leagues. He'll have a tougher matchup in the Wild-Card round against the division-rival Green Bay Packers, who have allowed the sixth-fewest yards per game (44.9) to tight ends this season. In two games against Green Bay this season, Loveland hauled in seven of his 10 targets for 59 yards and a touchdown.
--Kyle McCarthySource: RotoBaller
January 6, 2026
USC wide receiver Makai Lemon had a breakout season as a true junior, collecting 79 receptions for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns in 12 games. He has already declared for the 2026 NFL Draft, and many draft analysts project the 21-year-old to be a top-20 pick in April. The Trojans ranked fifth in passing yards per game (296.0) in 2025, and Lemon led the program in receptions, yards, and touchdowns. He won the Fred Biletnikoff Award, given to the nation's most outstanding wide receiver, and was named a Unanimous All-American. If Lemon fetches the high-end draft capital he's expected to, he'll be a sure-fire first-round pick in dynasty rookie drafts. His landing spot and quarterback situation will help shape his rookie season outlook in 2026.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
January 6, 2026
Houston Texans rookie wide receiver
Jaylin Noel showed flashes at times this season, ending with 26 catches for 292 yards and two touchdowns while playing all 17 games. Noel's snap share never climbed above 50% in a game this season, though, and he only cleared 30% in six contests. The rookie third-rounder doesn't project to be a significant piece of Houston's passing game heading into Monday night's Wild-Card matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. With Noel's role in the offense not expanding, he doesn't profile as a reliable option for fantasy managers in playoff leagues.
--Kyle McCarthySource: RotoBaller
January 6, 2026
Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson declared for the 2026 NFL Draft in December, and the two-time All-Big-12 performer is projected to be a top 15 pick in April. Tyson is among the shortlist of wide receivers in contention to be the first player at the position off the board. Naturally, this will make him a top pick in upcoming dynasty fantasy football rookie drafts. Tyson enjoyed a breakout year in 2024, snagging 75 passes for 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns. He was limited to nine games in 2025, but he still produced 61 receptions for 711 yards and eight scores. The 21-year-old is an excellent route runner for his size (6'2", 200), and he has strong body control and leaping ability for contested catches. WR-needy teams with young quarterbacks like the Titans and Saints are potential landing spots for the top-end wide receiver prospect.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Sports Reference CFB
January 6, 2026
Across 16 games in his rookie campaign, Houston Texans running back
Woody Marks has recorded 196 carries for 703 yards and two touchdowns while adding 24 catches for 208 yards and three scores on 36 targets. Marks has operated as Houston's lead back for most of the season, but he's been one of the least efficient runners in the league, averaging 3.59 yards per carry, which ranks 48th out of 49 RBs with at least 100 carries. The rookie fourth-rounder hasn't been very dynamic on his high volume of touches, and he will now face a stout Pittsburgh Steelers defense that allowed the fewest rushing yards per game (73.3) over the final four weeks of the season. Marks profiles as a risky RB3/flex for the Wild-Card round matchup on Monday night.
--Kyle McCarthySource: RotoBaller
January 6, 2026
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza has the Hoosiers still alive in the College Football Playoff and has not officially declared for the 2026 NFL Draft. However, he's the overwhelming favorite to be the No. 1 pick in April if he forgoes his final year of collegiate eligibility, and the expectation is that he will do so when Indiana's season comes to an end. The QB-needy Las Vegas Raiders officially have the No. 1 pick, so it's easy to connect the dots in the offseason. Mendoza, the 2025 Heisman Trophy Winner, has thrown for 3,172 yards, 36 touchdowns, and six interceptions through his first 14 games this year. He's added 256 yards and six scores as a runner. The Miami native isn't a high-end dual-threat quarterback, but he's a tactical scrambler with a touch of rushing upside. Mendoza isn't the most impressive athlete, but he's viewed as an NFL-ready prospect with a great command of the position. If he ends up in Las Vegas, his rookie-season ceiling likely won't excite fantasy managers, but he'd become a valuable piece for a rebuilding superflex dynasty manager. He's projected to be a better "real life" quarterback than fantasy quarterback, but a signal-caller with No. 1 overall pick draft capital has job security baked into his value through a dynasty lens.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
January 6, 2026
Chicago Bears wide receiver
Rome Odunze (foot) has missed five consecutive games due to a stress fracture in his foot. The 23-year-old wideout was able to practice in a limited capacity on Friday ahead of Week 18's regular-season finale against the Lions, which signals some optimism for his status heading into the Wild-Card matchup versus the division-rival Green Bay Packers. Odunze has totalled 44 catches (90 targets) for 661 yards and six touchdowns in 12 games during his sophomore campaign. He was inconsistent after the team's Week 5 bye, however, recording three receptions or fewer in six of eight games with one touchdown. The emergence of rookies
Luther Burden III and tight end
Colston Loveland muddy the outlook for Odunze heading into the playoffs if he can return. With the game being played on a short week on Saturday, more clarity should emerge regarding Odunze's status in the next few days.
--Kyle McCarthySource: RotoBaller
January 6, 2026
Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love is the consensus top fantasy football rookie in 2026, and the 20-year-old is expected to be a first-round pick in April's NFL Draft. The Missouri native had a fantastic career in South Bend, particularly in his sophomore and junior seasons. In his last 28 collegiate games, Love rushed 362 times for 2,497 yards (6.9 YPC) and 35 touchdowns. He added 55 receptions for 517 yards and five scores through the air. He was named a Heisman Trophy finalist, the Doak Walker Award Winner, and a Unanimous All-American after his final season with the Irish. Love has game-breaking speed, high-end elusiveness, receiving chops, elite vision, and impressive athleticism at 215 pounds. He checks all the boxes of a future NFL workhorse, and if he fetches early-first-round draft capital as expected, he will likely carry an RB1 outlook immediately in his rookie campaign. He's the clear No. 1 pick in single-QB dynasty rookie drafts, and he'll be in play for the top pick in superflex drafts.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
January 6, 2026
The Dallas Cowboys fired defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus on Tuesday, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter. The Cowboys will now be on their fourth different defensive coordinator in four seasons. Eberflus gets the boot after the team finished last in the league in points per game (30.1) and 30th in yards allowed per game. It was the first time in team history that the Cowboys allowed more than 30 points per game, and they surrendered a team-record 511 points in 18 games. Dallas traded All-Pro pass-rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers just a week before the start of the season. They finished with 35 sacks, their fewest since 2020. The Cowboys allowed either a touchdown or a field goal on 91 of 177 drives this season. Additionally, their 12 takeaways were the fewest in a season since 2015. Dallas' run D improved slightly, but they still ranked 23rd.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
January 6, 2026
The Carolina Panthers activated wide receiver
David Moore (elbow) from Injured Reserve on Tuesday and waived wide receiver
Hunter Renfrow in a corresponding move, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Moore played in only four games with Carolina to begin the year before suffering a serious elbow injury that landed him on IR in late September. The 30-year-old has been practicing in full for several weeks and now appears ready to contribute as WR depth for the Panthers going into the Wild-Card round of the playoffs this Saturday against the visiting Los Angeles Rams. Moore will take Renfrow's spot on the active 53-man roster. In his four games played early this season, Moore had just one catch for five yards on one target. If Moore is active this weekend, he'll be a long shot to return any fantasy value in playoff leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
January 6, 2026
Houston Texans tight end
Dalton Schultz has had a strong season, catching a career-high 82 passes (106 targets) for 777 yards and three touchdowns in 17 games. Schultz posted 10 games with at least five receptions this season, tied with
Jake Ferguson for the second-most among tight ends, trailing only
Trey McBride, who had 16. The 29-year-old should be in line for another busy day as the No. 2 target behind receiver
Nico Collins in the Wild-Card round against the Pittsburgh Steelers, who have allowed the fourth-most catches (6.3) and third-most receiving yards (66.8) to tight ends this season. Schultz has a projectable floor for receptions and will remain a solid TE1 option for fantasy managers in playoff leagues.
--Kyle McCarthySource: RotoBaller
January 6, 2026
Houston Texans wide receiver
Jayden Higgins scored in back-to-back weeks to close out his rookie campaign. The 34th overall pick in the 2025 draft has had an impressive season, recording 41 catches (68 targets) for 525 yards and six touchdowns in 17 games. Higgins should continue to operate as Houston's WR2 heading into the Wild-Card round versus the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers have allowed the seventh-most touchdowns and eighth-most fantasy points to wide receivers this year. While Higgins has seen his role increase as the season has progressed, the rookie is still tough to trust as anything more than a touchdown-dependent option heading into the playoffs, as he has recorded two catches or fewer in four straight games.
--Kyle McCarthySource: RotoBaller
January 6, 2026
Houston Texans wide receiver
Nico Collins has put together another excellent season as the team's top target, hauling in 71 of his 120 targets for 1,117 yards and six touchdowns in 15 games. The 26-year-old wideout rested in Week 18 with a playoff spot already locked up, and he should be ready to roll in the Wild-Card round against the Steelers. Collins has scored at least 14.2 PPR points in nine of 15 games this season and projects favorably against a Pittsburgh defense that has allowed the fourth-most catches per game (5.4) and the 12th-most receiving yards (63) to opposing WR1s this season. Fantasy managers in playoff leagues should fire up Collins with confidence on Monday night.
--Kyle McCarthySource: RotoBaller
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